A disappointing start for the Pacific men's basketball team in West Coast Conference play may be compounded with today's trip to No. 24 Gonzaga.

The Bulldogs have become a national power under coach Mark Few over the past 15 seasons and have been particularly unfriendly to visitors from the WCC at the McCarthey Athletic Center, going 66-2 since it opened in 2004. Gonzaga (13-2, 3-0) flexed its muscles again on Thursday, hammering Saint Mary's 73-51, while Pacific (9-4, 0-2) lost 73-65 at Portland. The Tigers will take their shot beginning at 5 p.m.

Pacific coach Ron Verlin gave a checklist of things the Tigers will have to overcome to get their first WCC win.

"They're the best program in our conference and they have one of the better college basketball atmospheres in the country," Verlin said. "They have an outstanding system and this year they have all the combinations with great inside scoring and good guards."

Pacific traveled to Spokane in December 2012 and lost 85-67, but the Bulldogs' top scorers from that team - Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris - have moved onto professional basketball. This season, the Bulldogs are led by guard Kevin Pangos (17.5 points, 4.2 assists) and are shooting 42.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

Verlin said his team needs to put together a complete game after playing subpar defense in Monday's 88-80 loss to the Gaels and making 32.9 percent of their shots in Thursday's loss at Portland. The coach is seeking consistency, especially from the small forward spot, where senior Trevin Harris and junior Aaron Short have provided an uneven platoon. Harris, who had 15 points and nine rebounds on Thursday, has been the starter all season, providing the Tigers with the intangibles. Harris, who is averaging 5.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, said he's enjoying being a key contributor after spending much of last season in a minimal role off the bench.

"It's definitely nice to be back out on the court and having a big role in our success," Harris said. "We have a lot of prolific scorers, and I want to get them the ball and space the floor for them."

While Verlin has been pleased with Harris' leadership and play, he's seeking more from Short, who's averaging 4.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 16 minutes per game. Short said he's trying to be more aggressive and impose his will on the game, but the coach has seen that only in short bursts.

"It comes down to defensive effort for Aaron because he has to be a difference-maker for us athletically," Verlin said. "Sometimes he takes plays off, but I need him to be relentless and play all out."